2018 was filled with the loss – having seen the death of many talented actresses, musicians, activists, and politicians

Here’s a recap of 50 stars who died in 2018.

Let’s face it, lots of famous people died in 2018. Mac Miller, R. Lee Ermey, Anthony Bourdain, Aretha Franklin. We even lost greats like Burt Reynolds and Reg E. Cathey who most recently starred in the Netflix hit House of Cards. Cathey was the lovable owner of a rib shop that fictional POTUS (President of the United States) Francis (Frank) Underwood loved to frequent.

The impact of these notable celebrities will undoubtedly be felt for years to come – but for now, we want to talk to you about those who we invited into our private lives through their respective medium. Here’s our list of 50 famous people who died in 2018.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin performs during the commemoration of the Elton John AIDS Foundation 25th year fall gala at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, in New York, November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Coined the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin grew up during a time of oppression toward African Americans in the United States. When she first started her career, there was a system of laws known as Jim Crow Laws.

They were designed to systematically oppress the country’s African American population. Franklin did gain plenty of respect during her career eventually filling in for stars like Luciano Pavarotti and performing with Lauryn Hill as well as Carole King. Franklin recorded 112 songs that shot to the top of Billboard’s top 100 list. She’s said to have died with a fortune of over $80 million dollars.

Reg E. Cathey

Reginald Eurias Cathey played James Lucas, Luke Cage’s father on the Netflix series, Luke Cage and HBO’s The Wire. Cathey also played Freddy in House of Cards and The Caretaker in NBC’s Blacklist. His career, however, started in the 1980s, when he played Richie in A Doctor’s Story.

Reg E. Cathey was born in Huntsville, AL to a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veteran father. His mother was an educator. A graduate of Yale University – the actor also spent time on a farm in Germany during his childhood because of his father’s military obligations. He was 59-years-old.

Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking in Beijing June 21, 2006. REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin

Stephen Hawking long surpassed his original life expectancy and went on to get married and father several children. He is thought to be one of the foremost intellectual thinkers of our lifetime and was a theoretical physicist and author. He was employed by the University of Cambridge and previously served as a professor of mathematics there.

Born in Oxford, England on January 8, 1942, Mr. Hawking died March 14, 2018, at the age of 76-years-old. He held countless bold theories on the way the world worked, versus how we perceived it to work. Hawking suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Tom Wolfe

Author Tom Wolfe stands with U.S. President George W. Bush while receiving the National Humanities Medal in Washington, U.S., April 22, 2002. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Thomas Kennerly Wolfe Jr. is one of the fathers of a style of journalism in the 1960s and 70s that used literary techniques to tell the story. Shortly after working as a regional reporter in the 1950s, he got his chance at national superstardom in the 1960s. He wrote a collection of articles of essays and articles called The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

He attended Washington and Lee University where he majored in English and worked as the sports editor for the university newspaper. Wolfe was born March 2, 1930, and died May 14, 2018, at 88-years-old.

Burt Reynolds

Hollywood actor Burt Reynolds poses for a portrait during an interview with Reuters at a hotel in central London, Britain December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Starring in films such as the 1972 blockbuster Deliverance, Burt Reynolds later played in Smokey and the Bandit as well as Boogie Nights. His career lasted almost 50 years, with the actor reaching near-icon status by the time of his death. This came in the form of some of the most supportive fans in the industry for the acting veteran.

Born Burton Leon Reynolds, in Lansing, MI, Reynolds was also a director and producer. He attended Florida State University, where he played football and belonged to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Not surprisingly, Burt’s career began in theater in 1956.

Stan Lee

Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee shows his hands after placing them in cement during a ceremony in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Stan Lee was the creator of countless fictional comic book characters. His impressive resume includes Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and X-Men. His career is one of the most monumental on the list – due to his accolades. 95-year-old Lee died November 12, 2018, and was born December 28, 1922, in Manhattan, NY. Lee spent most of his life in Los Angeles, CA.

His career endured over 60 years and is likely responsible for several generations of comic book fans as Vice President and publisher of Marvel Comics. Mr. Lee was known for his BluBlocker-style sunglasses. He would rarely be photographed without his signature glasses.

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson, father of the late pop star Michael Jackson, poses on the red carpet as he arrives for the screening of the film “Sils Maria” (Clouds of Sils Maria) in competition at the 67th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 23, 2014. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Joseph Water Jackson was best known for being the father of Michael, Janet, and the other Jackson family members. Born in Fountain Hill, Arkansas on July 26, 1928, Mr. Jackson died in Las Vegas at the age of 89-years-old. He had 11 children, several of which appeared in groups throughout their careers. Two had successful solo careers.

The most famous of his discovering was his youngest son – Michael Jackson, who went on to become known as the ‘King of Pop.’ During his life, Jackson faced harsh criticism for allegations of abuse toward his children, as well as long rehearsals.

Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer was a little person with a big personality. He was an American actor, comedian, and stuntman. He stood two-feet-eight-inches-tall. Born on January 1, 1969, in Sturgis, Michigan, Troyer died April 21, 2018, from a supposed suicide. His first major film was as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series starring Mike Myers.

Troyer even took the lead on the second film, rewriting much of the script and learning more screen time. The Austin Powers series took off – which led to more roles in films, reality TV shows, comedy tours, and book deals. Troyer was 49-years-old when he died.

Nancy Sinatra Sr.

The late Nancy Sinatra Sr. was the first wife of singer Frank Sinatra. At the time of her death, Sinatra Sr. was 101-years-old. She was the mother of three of the couple’s children. The met married in 1934. Before fame, the two lived in a New Jersey apartment where Sinatra Sr. worked as a secretary and Frank as a singing waiter.

The couple’s first child had a singing career of her own. Nancy Sinatra is a singer, best known for her 1960’s hit ‘These Boots Are Made for Walking.’ After the two divorced, Sinatra Sr. never remarried.

Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson acted for over 50 years, playing in AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead.’ Hershel Greene was Wilson’s portrayed a veterinarian trying to survive a zombie apocalypse with his daughters. Born in Thomasville, GA, Wilson made his debut in The Heat of the Night (1967). He also appeared in The Gypsy Moths,

The Right Stuff, A Year of the Quiet Sun, Malone, The Grass Harp, and The HBO series Enlightened. Wilson had a six-year-long battle with cancer, which he lost on October 6, 2018. He appeared in over 50 films during his career. Mr. Wilson was 76 at the time of his death.

Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan

Irish singer Dolores O’Riordan poses during an autograph session to promote her new solo album in Hong Kong April 24, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung

Mary Elieen O’riordan was born September 6, 1971, and died on January 15, 2018. The Irish musician was a songwriter in The Cranberries. For a period of years, O’riordan served as the band’s lead singer. If you haven’t heard her voice before, you should really give it a listen.

It was in the medium range, and she also had a strong Irish accent, coupled with a wide vibrato. O’riordan led the band until her death. The Cranberries are most well known for their hit Zombie. The song was such a success, it won the ‘Best Song’ award at the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Yvonne Staples

Staples was from Chicago, IL. She was the manager of and singer in The Staple Singers.The Staple Singers were deeply inspired by their roots in the church, as well as soul and rhythm and blues. The church was so important in their life, much of their music was played in churches until their first record deal in 1952.Officially forming in 1934, the group was made up of rotating family members. Today, The Staple Singers are likely most well-known for hits like ‘Respect Yourself’ and ‘I’ll Take You There.’ Yvonne Staples was an undeniable talent among us. She’ll be missed.

Vanessa Marquez

Vanessa Marquez was an American actress who appeared in seasons one through three of ER. On the show, she played a nurse (Wendy Goldman). Born in Los Angeles, CA, she died at the age of 49-years-old in a police shooting.

During her life, she battled with her mental health. It would later lead to her untimely death in her home. The police were dispatched to her home where she is said to have pointed at authorities what they thought to be a handgun. It was later discovered that it was a bb gun. Throughout her career, she played in Seinfeld and Melrose Place.

John McCain

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks at a press conference about the National Defense Authorization Act in Washington, U.S., October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

The Republican United States Senator John Sidney McCain was stanch Donald Trump critic, having asked the president not to attend his funeral in anticipation of his death. Senator McCain was born August 29, 1936, and died August 25, 2018. He served two terms in the House of Representatives and even ran for the presidency in the 2018 election.

Barack Obama would go on to win that race, making him the nation’s first African American President. McCain was a decorated war veteran, having been nearly-killed in 1967. He was known for his willingness to break away from his party on key issues.

Paul Allen

Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen on the field before Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S., February 2, 2014. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas

Paul Allen was Microsoft’s co-founder, the tech giant died October 15, 2018, at the age of 65-years-old from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He had several ventures in his life, but Microsoft was his most successful. To date – the company is worth over $110 billion dollars.

Paul Gardner Allen was born January 21, 1953. He was more than a businessman, he was a Seattle-born investor, software engineer, and philanthropist. He is said to have been one of the richest men in the world. His estimated worth was just over $20 billion. Allen was passionate about his charitable work in education, wildlife, and the arts.

Paul John Vasquez

Paul Vasquez was born July 11, 1970, in San Jose, CA. He played ‘Angel Gunz’ on ‘Sons of Anarchy.’ Vasquez also had roles in ‘CSI: NY,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and ‘ER.’ The star was just 48-years-old at the time of his death caused by an apparent heart attack. From an early age, Vasquez loved acting and performing.

Shortly after he graduated from high school – he moved to Hollywood to begin his career. In 1988, he made his first television appearance on Private Eye in 1988. In addition to his work on screen, he was also a producer, writer, and director.

Eddie Clarke

Edward Allan Clarke was a British guitarist who played with the band Motörhead. Born October 5, 1950, in Twickenham, UK, Clarke died on January 10, 2018, at the age of 67. He suffered from complications of pneumonia. Clarke’s fans called him ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke because of his style of playing.

As an original member of the band Fastway, he gained a reputation as a superb guitarist during his time with the group. Mr. Clarke started playing the guitar at an early age when he became fascinated at the age of 15-years-old. The rest is history. Mr. Clarke was a true rockstar.

John Mahoney

Charles John Mahoney was an English-American actor, born on June 20, 1940. Mahoney died February 4, 2018. He was born in Blackpool, England, and moved to the United States when he was 18-years-old to begin acting. That was in 1977, where be began on the stage. In 1980, he moved onto the big screen.

Most notably, Mahoney played the adorable Martin Crane, in Fraiser. From 1993-2004, Mahoney graced us with his presence on NBC. Mr. Mahoney also did brief work as a voice actor and was passionate about working on Broadway, and in Chicago’s theatre scene. John Mahoney was 77-years-old.

Dennis Edwards

Dennis Edwards is another celebrity from the Golden Age of Motown. He was the frontman for the legendary group The Temptations. He joined the group after David Ruffin was forced out, and sang with the group off and on well into the mid-1980s.

Born Dennis Edwards Jr. February 3, 1943, Mr. Edwards died just two days short of his birthday in 2018. His early years were spent in Fairfield, Alabama, fairly close to Birmingham. His love for singing, however, began when he was just a toddler. At the time of his death, Denis Edwards was 74. He died from meningitis.

Barbara Bush

Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush acknowledges the cheers from the crowd as she speaks before the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 1, 2000. REUTERS/Andy Clark

Former First Lady of the United States spent time in the White House under her husband and former POTUS George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993. She served under the 41st President of the United States, and she is one of the founders of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Throughout her tenure, her she made this one of her agendas. Her son, George W. Bush, served as the 43rd President of the United States. Jeb Bush simultaneously served as the 43rd Governor of Florida. She and her family have had a life-long connection with the Republican party.

Winnie Mandela

Then African National Congress (ANC) Womens League President Winnie Madikizela-Mandela smiles during the closing rally of the 51st National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in Stellenbosch, South Africa, December 20, 2002. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela was the late wife of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. In addition to her husband’s success, she also saw much success in her own lifetime. Mrs. Mandela served as a member of Parliment from 1994 to 2003 and again from 2009 until she died on April 2, 2018.

She held other posts in parliament such as deputy minister of arts and culture – as well. Mandela was outspoken about equality and race her entire life, fighting for the rights of the African majority in South Africa. Today, Apartheid has ended, yet her legacy lives on.

Avicii

Avicii accepts the favorite electronic dance music artist award at the 41st American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California November 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Tim Bergling was the name of electronic music superstar Avicii. Bergling was born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 8, 1989, and died April 20, 2018, at the age of 28-years-old. He was adored by his millions of fans, often selling out stadiums for his live shows.

Bergling got his start when he was 16 by adding his remixes on electronic music forums. This inadvertently led to the first record deal. He was born to a Swedish actress, and his older brother was a DJ who also inspired him to create music. There remains much speculation as to the cause of his death.

Ed King

Ed King of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd poses backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, March 13, 2006. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Edward Calhoun Kind was born in Glendale, CA on September 14, 1949, and died August 22, 2018, at 68-years-old. He was a guitarist for Strawberry Alarm Clock as well as dual guitarist/bassist in Lynard Skynard. As a founding member of the band Strawberry Alarm Clock, King was a part of one of the band’s biggest successes.

In 1967 the group recorded ‘Incense and Peppermints,’ which reached number one. King had met one of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd in an earlier iteration of the band and offered to play with them. In the early 70s King joined as the band’s bassist.

DuShon Monique Brown

DuShon Monique Brown is from Chicago, IL on November 30, 1968. She died at the age of 49 and was known for her work on Prison Break and Chicago Fire. Monique played Nurse Katie Welch on Prison Break and Connie on NBC’s Chicago Fire. She got her start on TV in the early 2000s, playing in Skin Complex and guest starred in Empire, Shameless, Electric Dreams and Unexpected.

Brown graduated from Governors State University and holds a master’s in school counseling. She worked at South Shore International College Prep High School as its crisis counselor and drama teacher.

Bob Dorough

The multi-talented bebop vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger and producer left no stone unturned during his career. Robert Lrod Dorough was born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas on December 12, 1923, and died on April 23, 2018. At 94-years-old, his career lasted over 50 years. If you know what a conjunction is – chances are, you can blame it on this.

He’s best known for composing and performing songs from Schoolhouse Rock. The animated series aired on Saturday mornings in for over thirty years. During his musical career, he worked with legends like Miles Davis. Safe to say he also influenced many modern musicians too.

David Ogden Stiers

Born in the Midwest city of Peoria, IL, he spent his most formative years in Oregon. He went to the University of Oregon – eventually enrolling at the Julliard School of Music. David received his degree from there in 1972. He was an actor, voice actor, and conductor.

He played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on the series M*A*S*H. Stiers played several other roles over the years. David spent time on Broadway and voiced several Disney characters like Cogsworth. Meistro Stiers then spent years conducting the Newport Symphony Orchestra. At the time of his death, Stiers was 75-years-old.

Marty Balin

Marty Balin was a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship – two psychedelic rock/folk groups. He was knowns as a vocalist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Born Martyn Jael Buchwald on January 30, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Balin died September 27, 2018, at 76.

Balin also had a successful solo career, having produced a rock opera called Rock Justice. His solo career flourished as with the release of his first solo album entitled ‘Balin. Later, in 1985, Balin worked with Paul Kantner and Jack Cassady to create KBC Band. A little-known fact about Marty Balin: he loved to paint.

Hugh Dane

Hugh Dane was best known for playing Hank the security guard on the Office. His career, however, began long before the 2005 casting, starring first in a video game, and later in a two-part episode of Hunter. Over the years, Dane made appearances on The Fresh Prince, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Boy Meets World, Martin, Friends, and Monk.

On the office, he was always quite witty, and always had a quick comeback to his quirky indirect boss Michael Scott of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Mr. Dane died on May 16, 2018, at the age of 75-years-old from pancreatic cancer.

Frank Avruch

The brilliant and slightly frightening actor behind WGN-TV’s Bozo the Clown was Frank Avruch. He played the fictional character in the early 1940s, which was syndicated across the US local TV network circuit. By 1978, Bozo the Clown went national thanks to cable and satellite providers.

Bozo the Clown became so widely popular, he became the UNICEF Ambassador and then hosted Chicago Channel 5’s Great Entertainment and Boston’s Man About Town. Mr. Avruch was born May 21, 1928, in Boston, MA and died of heart disease on March 20, 2018. He is survived by his wife Betty, his two sons and grandchildren.

Billy Knight

William Price Knight is another celebrity who died in 2018. Kight was an American professional basketball player from Phoenix, AZ. He played for UCLA and later played professionally in Japan. Objectively, Knight was a good basketball player, scoring an average of nearly 20 points per game.

At the time of his death, Knight was facing several criminal charges for alleged child molestation. Knight would later commit suicide after posting a video on YouTube discussing mental health issues. He was beloved by fans, teammates, and coaches. Born January 20, 1979, Knight died on July 8, 2018, at the age of 39-years-old.

Charlotte Rae

Actress Charlotte Rae (C) speaks with the cast of the television show “Facts of Life” during the 2011 TV Land Awards in New York April 10, 2011. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was born on April 22, 1926, and died on August 5, 2018. She shot to fame because of her beautiful singing voice, acting abilities and work as a comedian as well.In total, her career lasted over six decades.You may know Charlotte from shows such as Different Strokes and The Facts of Life.

For these roles, Rae earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. In late 2015, she released her autobiography – which was co-written by her son.Rae was a graduate of Northwestern University USC. At the time of her death, she was 92-years-old.

Roy Clark

Roy Linwood Clark was born on April 15, 1933, and died on November 15, 2018. He was 85-years-old at the time of his death. Born in Meherrin, Virginia, Clark was a singer, musician, guitarist, TV host and banjo player.

Clark was the star of ‘Hee Haw’ and widely seen as a Country Music Ambassador. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry and joined as co-host of ‘Hee Haw’ for almost 25 years. Clark often appeared internationally in places like the former Soviet Union. He spent his most formative years in Washington, D.C.

Jerry Van Dyke

Jerry Van Dyke was the younger brother of actor Dick Van Dyke. He was a musician, comedian, and actor from Danville, IL. Born on July 27, 1931, Van Dyke died January 5, 2018. Though he never quite measured up to his brother’s level of success, he had several guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, hosted by his brother.

Over the years, he attempted a number of sitcoms which didn’t receive much acclaim. One of the most popular was Coach, where he played Luther Van Dam. Born Jerry McCord Van Dyke, he was 86-years-old when he passed away.

Allison Shearmur

Allison Shearmur worked with plenty of film companies during her career as a film executive and producer. She worked for companies that included Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Disney. Allison is partially responsible for American Pie, The Hunger Games series and Star Wars Films Rogue One and Solo.

She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, eventually moving to California to pursue work. Shearmur grew up in a traditional Jewish household, later marrying and having two of her own children who survive her along with her husband. The Hollywood producer died at the age of 54-years-old.

William Goldman

Goldman was a famous screenwriter and novelist. During his career, he won Oscar Awards for his work on Butch Cassidy and All the President’s Men. If you know the story of The Princess Bride – you can also thank William Goldman, he’s responsible for the now cult classic.

Goldman was born in Highland Park, IL and died at the age of 87 in Manhattan, NY after a fight with colon cancer and pneumonia. Mr. Goldman is widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of our time and is sure to be missed by everyone who he touched during his life.

Charles Neville

Charles Neville was a member of the Louisiana-based Neville Brothers. His stage name, Charlie the horn man – was earned by his glorious sax playing. Born December 28, 2928, Neville died April 26, 2018. At the time of his death, Neville was 79-years-old. He did enjoy a long and fruitful career as an R&B and jazz musician.

Charles Neville was instrumental in the group earning a Grammy Award for the best pop instrumental performance. He performed with his brothers off and on, pioneering several new sounds, yet to be discovered in music. Neville even teamed up with James Booker, Larry Williams and more.

Jill Messick

Jill Laura Sobel Messick was an American-born producer. She was an executive producer on films such as She’s All That, Frida and Mean Girls. Born July 27, 1667, Messick died on February 7, 2018, from an apparent suicide.

Messick was born in Los Angeles, CA and was one of the many women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. She was outspoken about the #MeToo movement and didn’t want victims of sexual assault to be silenced, often telling her story to encourage others to share. At the time of her death, the movie producer was just 50-years-old.

Louise Latham

If you’re a fan of suspense films, you’ll recognize the next name on our list. Louise Latham. She was born September 23, 1922, in Hamilton,Texas. Mrs. Latham died on February 12, 2018, when she was 95. She starred as Bernice Edgar in Alfred Hitchcock’s Marine (1964).

Louise grew up on a ranch and graduated from Sunset High School. She also did some work on television. She made appearances on Perry Mason, Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke and popular TV shows. Louise was also no stranger to Broadway, having starred in Major Barbara and Isle of Children.

Linda Carol Brown

Linda Carol Brown is the reason American schools are integrated. It was her landmark court case in 1954, that led to the landmark decision to integrate the American school system. She was denied entrance to a school in Kansas based on her skin color. This resulted in Brown v. Board of Education.

Born in Topeka, Kansas on February 20, 1943, she was the daughter of a paster. As she grew older, Brown continued to fight for equal rights for the children of Kansas. Mrs. Brown died on March 25, 2018, at the age of 75-years-old.

Paul Junger Witt

Paul Junger Witt was known for his production work on The Partridge Family, The Golden Girls, and Blossom. Junger Witt was born in New York City on March 20, 1941, and died on April 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. More recently, he worked on the television Dallas SAWT.

For his work, he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and plenty of other accolades. Junger Witt was 77-years-old at the time of his death, but we’re still left with the remains of his genius manifest here on earth. He gave us so many important shows, that cultivated an era.

Margot Kidder

Margaret Ruth Kidder had an over 50-year-career. Her most famous starring role was that of Lois Lane in the Superman film series. Born October 17, 1948, Kidder died on May 13, 2018. She was a Canadian-American actress and activist, who won more than three Canadian Screen Awards and a Daytime Emmy for the many films and television shows she appeared in.

Kidder was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada and was educated at Havergal College. Kidder died at the age of 69-years-old. She guest starred in Smallville, Brothers & Sisters and The L Word. Her death was determined to be suicide.

Neil Simon

American playwright Niel Simon died on August 26, 2018, marking the end of an era in which he ruled Broadway. Born Marvin Neil Simon on July 4, 1927, Simon was 91-years-old at the time of his death. He grew up in New York City and was best known for his work on shows like Your Show of Shows and for working with comedy genius like Mel Brooks.

In the 60s, Simon came onto the Broadway scene by writing Come Blow Your Horn. He also wrote The Odd Couple, for which he’d later receive the coveted Tony Award for the best original screenplay.

R. Lee Ermey

Actor R. Lee Ermey, a cast member in the remake of the acclaimed 1971 horror classic “Willard,” poses during the premiere of the film March 12, 2003 at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen

If you’ve seen the film Full Metal Jacket, you probably know R. Lee Ermey. He was the somehow-lovable drill instructor and one half of a brilliant duo of a do which included Vincent D’Onofrio.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick – the film depicts the effects of the Vietnam War.
Ronald Lee Ermey was born March 24, 1944, and died on April 15, 2018, at 74. His career began in 1974, but long before that, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Ermey sent over 40 years in the spotlight appearing in countless films, and later hosting a series of shows on the History Channel.

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain was a chef, explorer, thinker, writer, and cynic. He provided a unique perspective on whatever he felt compelled to comment on. He wrote 13 books during his career and spent time traveling to promote his books. The cook often spoke about everything from food, to culture, and politics.

In more recent years, he hosted Parts Unknown. He trecked the world in search of the most exotic food on the planet. The chef was a storyteller of people who and their food. Bourdain died in France while filming the final episode of Parts Unknown at the age of 61.

Mac Miller

Celebrity Deaths This Year 2018 – Mac-Miller

Multi-talented rapper, singer, musician, and arranger Mac Miller died in 2018 from an apparent drug overdose. The young musician came a long way from his hometown of Pittsburg, P.A.

Born Malcolm James McCormick, Miller grew up with a Christian father and a Jewish mother. Miller’s career started in 2010 when he signed his first record deal with Pittsburgh-based independent label Rostrum Records. He would later sign with Warner Bros. Records.

His stage name, Mac Miller, was just one of his many personas. Miller produced a number of artists under the pseudonym Larry Fisherman, producing music for artists such as Vince Staples.

John Perry Barlow

For all of the celebs we lost this year, John Perry Barlow is among the most memorable. Barlow was a junior Lyricist of the Grateful Dead. Born in Pinedale, Wyoming, he moved to Colorado to attend boarding school where he met Bob Weir – grateful Deat guitarist. Mr. Bawlow later played a central role in putting Weir’s words to music.

Known for his words, he was a poet and great explainer, eventually becoming a tech mover and shaker. He made his way to the center of many major tech discussions over the years, making a big impact in the world of Artificial Intelligence. He could explain anything, however. At the time of his death, John Perry Barlow was 70-years-old.

Rasual Butler

Rasual Butler was an American professional basketball player who spent 14 years in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat. Butler also played for five or six other teams during his career. Born in Point Breeze, Philadelphia, he played college basketball at La Salle.

Butler was a small forward and stood six-foot-seven-inches and died at the age of 38-years-old. It was alcohol and drugs that caused the single-car crash which killed him and his wife.His wife was singer Leah LaBelle who was a finalist on American Idol during the show’s 2004 season.

Arnold Kopelson

Arnold Kopelson was born on February 14, 1935, and died on October 8, 2018. He was an American film producer of Seven, Outbreak, The Fugitive, The Devil’s Advocate and Platoon. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Kopelson has a J.D. from NYC Law School. For years, he worked in entertainment and banking law.

Later, he produced more than 29 of his own films and he won an Acadamy Award for Best Picture as well as a Golden Globe Award. Kopelson also served as a board member of CBS Corp after he met when he met Summer Redstone, CBS’s controlling shareholder.

Ezra Swerdlow

Ezra Swerdlow was born March 2, 1953, and died January 23, 2018. The film producer and production manager worked closely with Woody Allen on his film Stardust Memories in 1979. He produced films like The Smurfs, 21 Jump Street, The Equalizer, Southpaw and Head of State. His first film was Radio Days in 1887.

Raised in Great Neck, Long Island, N.Y, Swerdlow died at 64 with quite an impressive resume. In 2011, the producer was nominated for an Emmy award for the film ‘Too Big to Fail.’ Swerdlow had a wife, son, daughter-in-law and several brothers and sisters.

… to be continued

—

In 2018, we lost more famous people than we could fit on our list. For the celebrity deaths of stars who we didn’t feature this year – may they rest in peace.